Biology

Physiology

Tropius are large sauropod Pokémon with brown and green bodies. They possess large, broad green leaves on their backs which they use for flight. These leaves also double for sugar production via photosynthesis, to give Tropius even more energy. Despite being very big and bulky, they are surprisingly maneuverable in the air. They have long necks which they use for reaching treetops to gorge on their most favored food, fruits. They also grow fruits of their own on their necks which resemble a bunch of ripe bananas. These fruits can be picked and consumed by other Pokémon and by humans, and grow twice a year because of the rapid reproduction of sugar in their leaves, making the rapid production of the fruits in its neck. Their feet have toenails the same color as their fruit.

Behavior

Habitat

Tropius live in jungles in the tropics, such as those in Hoenn, although they also appear in southern Sinnoh, which is one of the warmer areas of the region. They have also been seen inhabiting the lush forest lands of eastern Unova.

Diet

Tropius enjoy fruit, especially one kind in particular. Since it ate only this kind of fruit continuously, the fruit began to grow around its neck. This is an example of a structural adaptation from the behavior of its ancestors.

Trivia

Tropius is the exact same size as another Grass-type Pokémon, Venusaur. Both have a height of 6 feet 7 inches and a weight of 220.5 pounds.

Tropius is the only Grass/Flying type to actually learn the HM move Fly, and overall the only Grass Pokémon to learn the move at all.

Origin

Tropius resembles a generic sauropod, a type of long-necked, herbivorous dinosaur. It may also draw inspiration from Mokele mbembe, a legendary sauropod-like creature said to live in the jungles of the Congo basin of Africa. Tropius also resembles a banana plant.

Name origin

Tropius is a combination of tropical and saurus (Greek for lizard). It may also be a pun of tropism; phototropism happens when the plant needs more sunlight, so turns to the available source of light, and if a plant is planted the wrong way around, the roots will use geotropism to grow towards gravity and find water.